Telephone unit adapted for vertical and horizontal mounting

Abstract

A telephone unit is adapted for mounting in either a vertical or a horizontal mode. In the vertical mode, the telephone cradle includes an upwardly extending hook member which projects into the space occupied by the handset to engage a downwardly facing recess in the handset to support the handset in a fixed position. In the horizontal mode, the hook member is retracted from the space occupied by the hook member, and a movable wall is positioned to bias the handset into the same fixed position relative to the cradle.

What is claimed as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A telephone unit adapted for mounting in vertical and horizontal modes, said telephone unit comprising: a handset having a predetermined configuration,   a cradle including stationary wall means at least partially forming a complementary configuration for receiving and supporting said handset in a fixed position relative thereto,   the predetermined configuration of said handset including a downwardly facing recess therein when the telephone unit is mounted in its vertical mode,   a hook member movable between a first position in which a portion of said hook member projects from said stationary wall means into a space occupied by said handset recess when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle and a second position in which no portion of said hook member projects into the space occupied by said handset recess when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle,   a movable wall means movable between a first position spaced substantially from the space occupied by said handset when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle and a second position adjacent the space occupied by said handset when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle,   means coupling said hook member and said movable wall means such that said hook member and said movable wall means may be selectively moved by a user in unison in either direction between their respective first positions and their respective second positions,   and locking means for selectively locking said hook member and said movable wall means in either of their respective first and second positions,   the said handset recess and said hook member having an orientation in its first position such that when the telephone unit is mounted in its vertical mode and said handset is placed on said cradle the weight of said handset causes said handset to move downwardly with said hook member received in said handset recess to said fixed position of said handset relative to said cradle, and an orientation of said handset and said movable wall means in its second position being such that when the telephone unit is mounted in its horizontal mode and said handset is placed on said cradle the weight of said handset causes said handset to move downwardly in engagement with said movable wall means to said fixed position of said handset relative to said cradle,   whereby a user may move said hook member and said movable wall means to their respective first positions whe mounting of the telephone in its vertical mode is desired and said hook member and said movable wall means to their respective second positions when mounting of the telephone in its horizontal mode is desired.   
     
     
       2. A telephone unit as defined by claim 1 further comprising: battery means in said handset,   first battery charging contact means on an exterior surface of said handset, said first contact means coupled to said battery means for supplying charging current thereto,   and second battery charging contact means on an exterior surface of said cradle,   said first and second contact means being positioned on said handset and said cradle such that electrical engagement is maintained therebetween when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle.   
     
     
       3. A telephone unit as defined by claim 1 in which said movable wall means in its second position comprises an inclined surface that engages a complementary portion of said handset to bias said handset horizontally into said fixed position relative to said cradle when the telephone unit is mounted in its horizontal mode. 
     
     
       4. A telephone unit as defined by claim 3 in which said coupling means comprises: a link member secured to said movable wall means at a first end thereof,   means pivotally connecting said link member to said hook member at a second, opposite end thereof,   means intermediate said first and second ends of said link member pivotally connecting said link member to said cradle,   and means biasing said hook member and said movable wall means to their respective second positions.   
     
     
       5. A telephone unit as defined by claim 4 in which the pivotal connection between said hook member and said link member is at a point intermediate the ends of said hook member, a first end only of said hook member comprising the portion thereof that projects into the space occupied by said handset recess when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle and said hook member is in its first position, said stationary wall means of said cradle including means for engaging the other end of said hook member to pivot said hook member about the second end of said link member when said movable wall means is moved between its first and second positions. 
     
     
       6. A telephone unit as defined by claim 5 in which said biasing means of said coupling means comprises first spring means interconnecting said link member and said cradle and second spring means interconnecting said link member and said hook member. 
     
     
       7. A telephone unit as defined by claim 6 further comprising: battery means in said handset,   first battery charging contact means on an exterior surface of said handset, said first contact means coupled to said battery means for supplying charging current thereto,   and second battery charging contact means on an exterior surface of said cradle,   said first and second contact means being positioned on said handset and said cradle such that electrical contact is maintained therebetween when said handset is received in said fixed position relative to said cradle.